Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 14 January 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Report on Crime Investigation 2014: Garda Inspectorate

2:30 pm

Mr. Robert K. Olson:

We were pretty clear in that report.

There is one universal roster in place in An Garda Síochána for everyone, from inspector down. Let us set that aside. We carried out an extensive examination of crime investigation. The current universal roster being utilised is not fit for purpose for crime investigation. It is as simple as that. It hampers work. Many investigations have not proceeded which perhaps could have proceeded if people were working when they were really needed on the investigation side. In fact, this has raised such concern that we will include the point in our Haddington Road review as it relates to the entire organisation. One size does not fit all. People do so many different things. We will be taking a good look at what everyone is doing, not only detectives, and whether this kind of work schedule - I am calling it a roster but it is a work schedule - is fit for purpose for whatever those officers are doing.